The Most Important Characteristic of Leadership

Today I was talking with a client who said members of their executive committee gave themselves raises. In the past, raises for the executive committee members had been approved by the shareholders via a formal vote. However, this time, the raises were granted by the members of the executive committee. The client, who sits on the executive committee, said: "It didn't feel right." The committee members went ahead and voted for the raises. "If someone doesn't like it, I guess they can run for an executive committee seat and change the pay.", one member said. 

Integrity is the one thing you never want to lose. If that little voice says, "Warning!" Stop and listen! You're at risk of compromising your integrity.

If You Have Integrity, Nothing Else Matters. If You Don't Have Integrity, Nothing Else Matters.

 - Alan K Simpson

Steps to Strengthen Your Integrity

Being in a leadership position can be challenging. You will be faced with situations that will test your integrity and honesty. You will be tempted to take an action here or there, and even rationalize why you're taking action. Being honest and having strong moral principles isn't easy. However, life is easier when you live with integrity. Others can trust you, and that trust is powerful. Acting with integrity is harder in the short-term, but invaluable down the road. Life steadily gets easier when you work with integrity.

To lead with honesty and integrity:

1. Develop yourself. Focusing on your personal growth is an effective way to strengthen your integrity. When you grow as a person, you become more comfortable with yourself and feel less need to be inauthentic. Thus the temptation to always "look good" dissipates because you accept yourself for who you are.
2. Be reliable. Be on time, avoid canceling meetings, and do what you say you're going to do. If you say that you'll deliver your report by noon on Friday, ensure that it's done on time. It's easy to be reliable if you under-promise. Make promises you know you can keep, and you'll never disappoint anyone.
3. Be honest with yourself. Before you take action or say something, ask yourself why you're doing it. What do you hope to accomplish? What's your real purpose? How might others perceive it? Are you being self-serving at the expense of others, or are your motives more honorable? Self-awareness is a primary component of leading with integrity.
4. Be gentle, but be honest. Do you people believe that you're an honest person? Do you lie to be comfortable or to pretend that you're something you're not? Perhaps the most difficult to be honest with is yourself. You can be kind and honest at the same time. Being honest doesn't give you license to tell a coworker that their fat or that their spouse looks like a troll.
5. Live by your values each day. If you're unaware of your values, now would be a great time to figure them out and list them. Knowing your values makes it easier to make decisions. It also makes your behavior more predictable, which makes others more comfortable. Know your values and live them each day.
6. Be willing to say no. Saying no can be hard for many people. When we say no, we think we risk offending the other person and damaging the relationship. But consider what happens when you say yes to things you don't want to do, what does that say about your integrity? Being able to say no when saying no supports your values is right and proper. You don't have to take part in every opportunity that's presented to or thrust upon you. If the opportunity has you questioning your actions, if it has alarm bells ringing, then say no.
7. Be willing to stand up for what you know to be right. Most of us have values and opinions, but few are willing to even share them with others, and in today's social media world, many never mind stand up for them. While others won't always agree with your stances, they will respect you for having them. If they don't, then perhaps they aren't the people you should associate and work with. It calls into question their integrity. It's far easier to maintain your integrity when those you associate with have integrity. Why risk your integrity by being concerned with the opinions of those who have none?

Live your life with integrity. It appears to be a more challenging way to live on the surface. But living with integrity is more comfortable in the long run. You'll be more respected and experience more success.